Gals, I am taking a class on Theology of the Body right now and let me tell you… Woman. Blows. My. Mind. Femininity is gorgeous. I’ll try to make this significantly less long winded than my previous blogs. Sigh. It will be quite the task.
Ok. Let me start off with the following statement: “We don’t understand what it’s truly like to be human.”
Ok. Let me start off with the following statement: “We don’t understand what it’s truly like to be human.”
WHAT?!
I know! My professor told us that today, and I, being very poorly versed in philosophy, sat there and thought to myself “Oh boy. Here we go. More philosophicalness that I am just never going to be able to grasp.” But not so.
We don’t understand what it’s like to be human because the fullness of humanity – what it was intended to be from “the beginning” – is without sin. Adam and Eve were the first to sin. So when God created them, masculine and feminine, he made them without any of the stains of sin. Then we messed up and fell, and sin entered the world, and everything got significantly murkier.
Boo.
Sisters, we are so blessed to have a Redeemer! We are so blessed to have a New Adam and a New Eve! We have a model for how to be truly feminine as Eve was before the fall, and that model can be found in a glorious creature – a mother. THE mother. Momma Mary.
It’s so simple. God’s such a genius.
Let’s break it down:
She was created without sin, just as Adam and Eve were created.
She was made in the image and likeness of God, just like Adam and Eve, and just like every other human being. JPII says that we image God not through solitude, but through union with one another, and in that union we mirror the Lord. When men and women give themselves fully to one another – a sincere gift of self – they model, or image, God in the Most Holy Trinity. The Father exchanges Love with the Son, the Son with the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit with the Father. It’s a never ending exchange of Love and gift of self (because you know, God is Love). So from this Love comes forth Life. Life! Now when a man and woman come together in union with one another and exchange their love for each other and give a total gift of self, they too are capable of creating life. When a priest or religious gives their life to the Lord they are giving a free and total gift of self, a gift of love, and from that comes forth life too! Spiritual life! This is how we mirror the Lord in this gift of ourselves. When we become a gift of selfless love we receive and create life.
Mary’s soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. Our souls should magnify and proclaim the greatness of the Lord too! That’s what we were made for: praising God; union with God; union with one another in order to bring glory to the Lord. Remember that whole thing about man not being made for solitude? We are made for union. And when we become what we were made for, we glorify Christ.
Mary’s union with God is pretty doggone spectacular. She says yes to the Lord without any doubt or hesitation. Her yes, her total gift of herself, her unconditional love and the Father’s love for her is an ammmmmmazing combo. From it comes forth Life! The Life that was a light to all men, who were shadowed in the darkness of sin. That Life? That Light? It has saved all men. WHOA. Mary’s cooperation and sincere gift of herself gave Christ (Life!) to us!
I’d like to pause here and just let that sink in.
Mary brought Christ to us while she was on earth. Now she’s in heaven. So why wouldn’t she bring Christ to us still today? Mary loves us all as a mother loves her child – unconditionally. And just like a mother takes care of her child, so too does she; just as a mother wants what’s best for her child, so too does Mary; and just as a mother never forgets her child, so she will never forget us (you all know how I feel about my man Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, so let’s quote him): “A child may forget a mother, but a mother never forgets a child. She is not only the Mother of Jesus; she is also the Mother of all whom He redeemed.” Oh. Hey.
And just for kicks (and because I can’t deny that he’s kind of a big deal…) the Lord of the Universe says this: "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you." - Isa 49:15 Yeah. You can put money on that one. If the Big Guy’s momma won’t forget about you, neither will he. Cha-ching!
By asking Mary for help in all our daily tasks we can know that we have the loving and caring support of a wonderful mother, and that she will always bring us aid. Think about the Memorare: “Remember, oh most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided…” And not only do we have her as a mother who is interceding for us, but we have her as a model of holiness and true femininity. In modeling Mary we model the way man was originally created, in the beginning. Mary was immaculately conceived – full of grace. She was created without the stain of sin, just as Adam and Eve were. By modeling Mary we too can reflect the Son (HA! Theological pun. Nice.) and truly live our lives in the image and likeness of God, in a truly feminine way – the way he intended all along. How beautiful is that?
Mary is always there for us. She’s interceding for us like caaaaraaaaazy up in heaven. She is loving on us all the time. When we experience sorrow or joy, she too experiences those feelings with us. Next time you are feeling sad or lonely, lost or confused, or perhaps you are looking for someone to share in your joy – look to Mary, and she will celebrate with you. She’ll even bring along this really great guy she knows (who coincidentally would be absolutely perfect for you) to celebrate. A great man and a bestie? Dare I say it…
Not only do I personally recommending sharing your life with Momma, but as I said before, we should also model her. She’s both mother and virgin, so she’s a model for any woman, whatever her vocation may be. She is loving and obedient, good and holy, supportive and steadfast, and so much more! She’s pretty flippin’ awesome. And one more thing… the Church has her say about Mary too: "And so they turn their eyes to Mary who shines forth to the whole community of the elect as the model of virtues." - Lumen Gentium #65
(Portrait: “Mary’s Heart” by Liz Lemon Swindle)
Mary’s heart belongs to Jesus. So should ours. She will always lead you to the Lord. She will always bring you closer to him. She will help you transform your own heart to Christ if you ask her to. She lives for the Lord and does anything he asks (“Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord” (kinda her thing)). Why on earth would she ever steer you wrong? Like Mary Poppins “She’s practically perfect in every way.”
Totus Tuus Maria,
Ashley
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